Are you preparing to survive, or are you preparing to serve?
My lovely wife and I today did something we generally do not do for very long, flipped through YouTube videos on our television for an hour or so, focusing, strangely enough, on those who were comparing long term survival food kits, most of them having a shelf life of twenty-five years or more.
It was interesting to watch people who think apocalyptically, but do not attribute that word to the Almighty. They are preparing to attempt to survive that which very few will survive.
“And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect’s sake those days shall be shortened.” (Matt. 24:22)
And here is, as they say, the real kicker, they do not realize that only those who call upon the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of their soul in those days, and who survive to the end, will walk into the Millennial Period, all others will be cast into hell.
The survival of the flesh, and the continuation of life here for those who have been crucified with Christ is not our goal, it should rarely even cross your mind my friends, willing and humble submission to the will of God for His glory should always be at the front of your mind.
“If ye love me, keep my commandments.” (John 14:15)
Obedience unto death, no matter when or in what form it arrives, that is our life.
Fear of the unknown, specifically what comes after this life is what causes men to do all within their power to remain on this earth for as long as possible, we trust in the promise of 2nd Corinthians 5:8. “We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
To a degree, those who are considered preppers, with storehouses of items to feed and protect the flesh are similar to the man in Luke 12:18 who thought he had enough to live a long life. “And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.”
Should you have provisions in your house? Of course, how much I will leave up to you, but Proverbs 11:4 is not just referencing money. “Riches profit not in the day of wrath: but righteousness delivereth from death.” It can mean wealth of any kind but is relevant to that which is meant to protect you from what is approaching for as long as possible, to remain alive and here for, I would suggest, solely selfish reasons.
If you have been born-again and consider yourself a prepper, what’s the plan, hide in your safe place until the days of Jacob’s Troubles are completed? If so, then I would suggest a very in-depth study of the Rapture, because apparently you disbelieve those truths.
If the flesh, the continuation of it for as long as possible is your goal, then I would also suggest this verse.
“He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.” (John 12:25)
It speaks of those preparing to survive and the loss of all they hoped to gain.
To lose your life for the glory of God is to die to self, it is to say Thy will be done, it is to trust in His provisions, while still using what I will call common sense sprinkled with wisdom to prepare. It is the wise man trusting Christ, not to continue in this life, but preparing to serve in whatever manner He calls us to.
I have spoken with some of those people who have stored away literally decades worth of provisions, and they are almost impossible to reach with the truth, but I do not believe it reveals a greater faith, so to speak, to simply go on with life as if there will be a tomorrow that is relative to today.
“But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.” (1st Tim. 5:8)
Too much and that storehouse may cause pride and self-reliance, too little, and wisdom might not be applied properly.
Prepare to submit to His will for your life, trust in His promises, listen well as the Holy Spirt leads you.
